Thermal characteristics of melting of a phase change material enhanced by a stainless-steel 304 periodic structure

Chunrong Zhao; Michael Opolot; Patrick Keane; Ji Wang; Ming Liu; Frank Bruno; Simone Mancin; Kamel Hooman

Energy Storage and Saving (Jun 2023)

Thermal characteristics of melting of a phase change material enhanced by a stainless-steel 304 periodic structure

Chunrong Zhao,
Michael Opolot,
Patrick Keane,
Ji Wang,
Ming Liu,
Frank Bruno,
Simone Mancin,
Kamel Hooman

Affiliations

Chunrong Zhao: School of Mechanical and Mining Engineering, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, 4072, Australia; School of Aerospace, Mechanical and Mechatronic Engineering, The University of Sydney, NSW, 2006, Australia; Corresponding author. School of Mechanical and Mining Engineering, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, 4072, Australia.
Michael Opolot: School of Mechanical and Mining Engineering, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, 4072, Australia
Patrick Keane: Future Industries Institute, University of South Australia, Mawson Lakes, 5095, Australia
Ji Wang: Future Industries Institute, University of South Australia, Mawson Lakes, 5095, Australia
Ming Liu: Future Industries Institute, University of South Australia, Mawson Lakes, 5095, Australia
Frank Bruno: Future Industries Institute, University of South Australia, Mawson Lakes, 5095, Australia
Simone Mancin: Department of Management and Engineering, University of Padova, Vicenza, 36100, Italy
Kamel Hooman: Department of Process and Energy, Delft University of Technology, Leeghwaterstraat 39 2628 CB Delft, The Netherlands

Journal volume & issue: Vol. 2, no. 2
pp. 442 – 448

Abstract

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In this work, melting of a high-temperature inorganic phase change material (PCM) eutectic (with a melting point of 569 °C) within a vertical cylindrical tank has been experimentally investigated. To promote the heat transfer rate, a periodic structure that is constructed by a commercial SS-304 mesh screen has been considered and immersed into the PCM tank. Thermal characteristics of the PCM-periodic structure tank under different initial temperatures (450, 490 and 546 °C) and wall temperatures (620, 640, 660, 680 and 700 °C), are then investigated and reported. The presented experimental data can facilitate practical engineers to find the best operating condition of similar PCM tanks; meanwhile, it can also be employed for the investigation of thermal response of transient heat conduction before melting starts.

Published in Energy Storage and Saving

ISSN: 2772-6835 (Online)
Publisher: KeAi Communications Co., Ltd.
Country of publisher: China
LCC subjects: Technology: Mechanical engineering and machinery: Energy conservation
Website: https://www.keaipublishing.com/en/journals/energy-storage-and-saving/

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